To celebrate the 50th year of Indian independence, Macmillan India commissioned selected authors to write about various legendary heroes and heroines who played a pioneering part in the un-enslaving of the country.

PAZHASSI RAJA Kerala Varma was one of the earliest such freedom fighters. He fought the marauding armies of both the British and Tipu Sultan.

His story is full of adventure and thrill, intrigue and treachery, a case-book of bravery.

The book is profusely illustrated. It was heavily researched. The surviving members of the Raja's family were interviewed at Pazhassi and information was gathered from many books and historical records. The text in the book is but a fraction of the material actually obtained.